Scientists have unlocked the brain switching device, which triggers weight loss in the opposite way.
Recently, there have been a number of recent developments in the field of international medical health that continue to attract the attention of the industry and the public. Cambridge researchers have found that activating or blocking the same brain receptor promotes weight loss for two reasons. These findings may help scientists develop more effective and possibly better-effective treatments for obesity in combination use.
A study on mice published in the journal Nature Metabolism found that the results depend on which parts of the brain are specifically targeted. The activation of neurons at the base of the brain decreases appetite, while similar neuronal activity in the hypothalamus blocks similar weight-loss effects through different mechanisms. Around 100 million people worldwide are obese, a disease that leads to an increased risk of diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.
The focus of modern weight-loss medications on the brain is a new generation of weight-loss medications that have emerged in recent years that regulate appetite through specific receptors. By affecting these receptors, the drugs can reduce food intake, promote weight loss, and help control blood sugar levels. Several widely used drugs, including Wegovy and Ozempic, activate a protein receptor called GLP-1R.
Other obesity-treating drugs also work on GLP-1R and another receptor called GIPR. This second goal brings scientists a different mystery. Some drugs, including Mounjaro and Zepbound, activate GIPR.
Others, such as Mary Tide, block its entry. Although both methods have the opposite effect on the same receptor, both methods can help promote weight loss. Researchers at the Institute of Metabolic Sciences, the University of Cambridge, and the University of Cambridge set out to understand why.
Their experiments in mice revealed that these two types of GIPR drugs work through different regions of the brain. The researchers also found that these methods can increase weight loss when used in combination with certain GLP-1-based weight-loss medications. To identify these areas of the brain, the team used gene-editing mice.
In these mice, GIPR was selectively removed in specific regions. Therefore, these methods can increase weight loss when used with specific GLP-1-based weight-loss medications. By identifying the areas of the brain where these effects occur, the team was able to better understand the effects of these methods on weight loss.
One group lacked GIPR in the brain's spinal cord, a region at the base of the brain involved appetite and nausea. Another group lacked receptors in the subclavian, an important brain region involved in regulating appetite and body weight. The third group included normal, unmodified mice.
It should be pointed out that the above content is based on international public research findings and is for reference in HealthCop and does not constitute clinical advice. If you have any health questions, please consult professional medical personnel.
